Mining machine



T. E. PRAY MINING MACHINE June 1, 1937.

Original Filed April 19, 1953 7 Sheets-Sheet l m NQW r 0 u T. E. PRAY MINING MACHINE June 1, 1937.

7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed April 19, 1933 T. E. PRAY MINING MACHINE 7 June 1, 1937.

Original Filed April 19, 1933 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 T. E. PRAY June. 1, 1937.

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T. E. PRAY MINING MACHINE Origifial Filed April 19, 1933 '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 an aging .r l

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' MINING MACHINE Original Filed April 19, 1953 7 Sheets-Sheet -7 j i i I Patented June 1, 1937 UNITED STATES ltIINING MACHINE Thomas E. Pray, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Goodman Manufacturing Company, Chicago, 111., a

corporation of Illinois Application April 19, 1933, Serial No. 666,838 Renewed October 1, 1936 12 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in mining machines, and more particularly relates to improvements in a track-mounted mining machine adapted to cut and clean dirt bands from coal seams.

My invention has as its principal objects toprovide a new and improved mining machine of the class described, constructed with a view towards utmost efficiency and adaptability to varying mining conditions together with a means whereby a complete stratum of dirt in the coal seam may be cleaned therefrom in one operation.

A prior application filed by William T. McCullough, on May 24, 1930, Serial No. 455,218, now Patent No. 1,943,832, shows a machine of the general class disclosed by my present invention. My present invention, however, is an improvement on the prior McCullough application in that new and improved means are provided for collooting and conveying the cuttings away from the machine, and in that the machine of my present invention may completely out out a dirt band from the coal seam and separate the dirt from the coal in one continuous operation.

Other objects of my invention will appear from time to time asthe following specification proceeds.

My invention may be more clearly understood with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure l is a top plan View of a device constructed in accordance with my invention with certain parts broken away and in section to more clearly show the details thereof;

Figure 2 is an enlarged plan view of the forward portion of the device shown in Figure l with certain parts broken away and shown in horizontal section;

Figure 3 is an enlarged side elevation of the device shown in Figure 1 with certain parts broken away and shown in substantially longitudinal section;

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along line 5-5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail view of the truck frame with parts broken away and in section;

Figure 7 is an enlarged sectional View taken substantially along line 'I-I of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is an enlarged detail view with parts broken away and in section showing details of the cuttings-collecting mechanism in plan;

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 99 of Figure 2;

Figure 10 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken substantially along line Ill-4D of Figure l; and

Figure 11 is a sectional view taken substantially along line II-II of Figure 10.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the various figures.

In the drawings, the machine generally comprises a wheeled truck I8 adapted to travel on tracks laid on the mine floor. Mounted on the truck II] is a turntable II having a pair of upright frame members I2, I2 spaced apart and supporting between them a cutting element I3 extending forwardly and rearwardly of the supporting frame members I2, I2 and including a main frame I4, a motor I5 secured to and extending rearwardly of said main frame, and a pair of parallel spaced horizontally disposed cutter bars I8 and I1 extending forwardly of said main frame.

The entire cutting element I3 is capable of being raised and lowered bodily bygear members I8, I8 on shafts I9, 49 engaging vertical racks 20, carried by the supporting frames I2, I2. The shafts I9, I9 and gear members I8, I8 are driven from the motor l5 through a suitable system of reduction gearing in a manner which will hereinafter be more fully described.

The wheeled truck II! includes a truck frame 2| carried by a rearward axle 22 having track wheels 23, 23 thereon. The rearward axle 22 is herein preferably shown as being rigidly journaled in the truck frame 2! so as to be incapable of axial movement with respect thereto. The forward portion of the truck frame 2| is supported on a floating axle 24 having track wheels 25, 25 thereon, which floating axle is so arranged as to be axially movable with respect to said truck frame tocompensate for irregularities in the mine track and to permit vertical adjustment of the truck frame H with respect thereto for adjusting the angle of the cutter bars l8 and H with respect to the coal face to permit said outter bars to cut a horizontal kerf in the mine wall where the track is uneven, or to permit said cutter bars to readily follow a pitching seam.

With reference now in particular to the means for adjusting the angular position of the cutter bars l6 and I! with respect to the mine bottom, and the means for equalizing the truck wheels for travel over uneven mine tracks, and one of the novel features of my invention, the forward truck axle 24 is journaled in a pair of fulcrumed levers 21., 27! adjacent its opposite ends, but herein preferably shown as being inwardly of the truck wheels 25, 25. The fulcrumed levers 21, 27 are pivoted adjacent their rearward ends on pivotal pins 28, 28 carried by suitable brackets 29, 29 secured to the truck frame 2| in a suitable manner. The axle 24 is journaled intermediate the ends of the fulcrumed levers 2?, 2i and the free ends of said levers are adapted to slidably engage the under surface of one lever arm 30 of bell crank members 5|, 3| (see Figs. 3, 5, 6, and '7) The bell crank members 3|, 3| are pivotally supported on the truck frame 2| by means of pivot pins 53, 33 carried in brackets 34, 34 which brackets in turn are secured to the truck frame 2| in a suitable manner. Another lever arm 35, of each bell crank member 3i, is forked and has a nut 35 trunnioned in the forked portion of said lever arm. The nuts 55, 36 are adapted to be threaded on opposite ends of a transversely extending rod 51 so that movement of one fulcrumed lever 2'! in one direction will cause movement of the opposite fulcruined lever 21 in an opposite direction to compensate for irregularities in the mine track.

The threads on the end of the transversely extending rod 5i are so cut that the bell crank members 3 3| may move simultaneously towards or away from the longitudinal center line of the truck frame 2| depending upon the direction of rotation of the rod 31 for pivoting said bell crank members about their axis of pivotal connection to the truck frame El and pivoting said truck frame about the axis of the rearward truck axle 22 for raising or lowering the forward portion of said truck frame with respect to the axle 24 in an obvious manner.

The threaded rod 3i has universal couplings 39, 39 secured to its opposite ends in a suitable manner. Sleeves 45, 40 are carried on the outer ends of the universal couplings 39, 39 and have sliding and driving engagement with the universal couplings 39, 39. The sleeves 40, 4% have driving engagement with other universal couplings 4|, 4|, which couplings in turn have sockets 42, 42 formed integral therewith for receiving squared shafts 43, 43 carried in the truck frame 2! in a suitable manner so that the transversely extending rod 3'! will be free to move transversely with respect to the truck frame 2| and so that rotation of either one of the squared shafts 43, 43 by means of a suitable hand lever will pivot the truck frame 2| about the rearward axle 22 and elevate or lower the forward ends of the cutter bars H5 and H.

It may thus be seen that a new and improved equalizing means has been provided for permitting the mining machine to travel over relatively rough tracks without derailing, which means also acts as a means for adjusting the angle of the mining machine and cutting element with respect to the mine bottom for permitting said cutting element to out where the tracks are irregular or where the bottom or coal seam is uneven and that said means is as effective for elevating the cutter bar where the track is uneven as where it is even.

The method of securing the cutter bars l5 and I! to the main frame I4 is best shown in Figures 2, 3, and 4. The cutter bar H3 is adapted to rest on and be secured to the main frame I4 with its longitudinal center line substantially coincident with the longitudinal center line of said main frame. A spacing member 44 is adapted to rest on the upper side of the cutter bar l6, and the cutter bar I? is adapted to rest on the upper side of said spacing member. A shoe 45 is adapted to engage the upper side of the cutter bar I7 and suitable cap screws 45, 45 are adapted to extend through the shoe 45, cutter bar spacing member 44, cutter bar l5, and be threaded in suitable lugs 47 extending upwardly from the main frame M for securing the cutter bars l6 and I! to said main frame. Likewise, a shoe 48 is spaced rear- Wardly of the shoe 45 and cap screws 49, 49 pass therethrough and are threaded in suitable lugs formed integral with the main frame M to aid in holding the cutter bars i6 and I! to said main frame. The apertures in the cutter bars l6 and H, through which the cap screws 46, 46 and 49, 49 pass, are elongated to permit independent longitudinal adjustment of said cutter bars to take up on the cutter chains movable thereabout and compensate for wear of said cutter chains.

The spacing member 44 may be of any suitable dimensions according to the thickness of kerf it is desired to out, but as herein shown said spacing member is of such proportions that the top bits of the cutter chain movable about the cutter bar iii are substantially on a level with the bottom bits of the cutmr chain movable about the cutter bar so that the thickness of the kerf cut by said cutter bars is substantially equal to twice the thickness of kerf cut by an ordinary cutter bar. Where the dirt band is thicker or thinner, these cutter bars may be spaced farther apart or closer together in an obvious manner.

A vertical shaft 50 has a bevel gear 53 keyed to its lower end, the hub of which bevel gear is journaled in a member 5| secured to the main frame I 4. The vertical shaft extends upwardly through the member 5| and has a cap 54 formed integral with its upper end and extending outwardly therefrom. The outer portion of the cap 54 abuts and rests on a sleeve 55 journaled for rotation about the member 5| coaxial with the shaft 5|! on suitable ball bearings. A cutter chain sprocket 56 is secured to the sleeve 55 adjacent the lower end thereof and meshes with and drives a cutter chain 51 about the cutter bar Hi. A spacing member 58 is disposed above the cutter chain sprocket 58 and a cutter chain sprocket 59 is disposed above the spacing member 58 and secured to the sleeve 55 in a suitable manner.

The cutter chain sprocket 59 is adapted to mesh with and drive a cutter chain 55 about the cutter bar H.

A key piece 52 is secured to the cap 54 of the vertical shaft 55 for rotation therewith in a suitable manner and is adapted to engage suitable slots formed in the hub of the cutter chain sprocket 59 for driving said sprocket and the sleeve 55 and cutter chain drive sprocket 56 upon rotation of the vertical shaft 55.

The teeth of the cutter chain sprockets 56 and 59 are alternately arranged so that the blocks of the cutter chain 51 will be disposed between the blocks of the cutter chain 50 to permit more even spacing of the cutter bits and prevent interference between the extreme up bits of the cutter chain 51 and the extreme down bits of the cutter chain 65, especially when the cutter bars l6 and l! are so spaced as to cut a kerf of less thickness than ,the thickness of kerf cut by the two cutter chains when one is disposed directly above the other. The spacing of the cutter chain sprockets 55 and 59 may readily be changed by substitution of a spacing member 58 and changing the sleeve 55 and vertical shaft 55 where necessary to compensate for various desired spacings of the cutter bars l6 and I1.

The bevel gear 53 meshes with and is driven from a bevel pinion 6| on a longitudinally extending shaft 63 disposed beneath said bevel gear. The longitudinally extending shaft 63 is journaled in the main frame M in a suitable manner and has a spur gear 64 keyed adjacent its rearward end which is meshed with and driven from an armature pinion 65 of the motor l5.

The longitudinally extending shaft 63 extends forwardly of the bevel pinion 6] beyond the bevel gear 53 and has a bevel pinion 66 keyed adjacent its forward end which is adapted to meshwith and drive oppositely facing bevel gears 61', 61 freely mounted on a transversely extending shaft 68. The bevel gears 61, 61 are so arranged that they may be selectively connected with the trans versely extending shaft 68 for driving said shaft in opposite directions without reversal of the.

motor l by means of suitable friction clutch members, generally indicated by reference character 69. Worms (8, 18 are keyed adjacent the outer ends of the transversely extending shaft 68 and mesh with and drive worm gears H, H secured to the forward ends of the longitudinally extending shafts l9, l9 for bodily moving the cutting element 13 With respect to the turntable ll. The worms [8, l8 and worm gears H, H are of a usual self-locking type for holding the cutting element l3 in any desired position of adjustment with respect to the turntable I l.

Referring now to the apparatus for collecting the cuttings discharged by the cutter chains 57 and 60 and discharging said cuttings beyond the machine, the main frame I4 is provided with vertical side walls 12, 12, which side walls, together with the bottom of said main frame, form in eifect channels between the sides of the cutter bars l6 and I1 and said main frame. An extensible chute 13, open at its top and forward end and extending along the sides and beneath the cutter bars l6 and I1, is carried by the main frame I; for slidable movement with respect thereto for collecting the cuttings discharged by the cutter chains 5? and S8. The extensible chute l3 1 is provided with side walls l4, "M which extend said chute on'each side of the cut-away portion is formed to substantially conform to the channeled portion of the main frame M and is provided with upwardly extending sides which include inwardly extending flanges 16, 16 adapted to rest on and slide along suitable shouldered portions formed on the main frame l4 beneath the cutter bar l6. Thus, a collecting chute is formed along each side of the cutter bars l6 and I1 for collecting the cuttings discharged which is as effective when the cutter bars are cutting in reverse directions as when cutting in one direc- I tion.

A channel 11 extends across the bottom of the forward portion of the extensible chute i3 and has a vertically extending guide and support member 18 secured thereto. The guide and support member T8 is adapted to ride in slots 19 formed in and extending longitudinally of the cutter bars l6 and Il. Suitable rollers 80, 88 are adapted to ride in the slots 19, 19 of the cutter bars l6 and I1 and engage the sides thereof. Rollers 8|, 8| are carried by theguide and sup port member 18 and are adapted to engage the top surface of the cutter bar 16 on each side of the slot I9. A pair of tension members, herein preferably shown as being tension springs 83, 83; are secured to the guide and support member 18 in a suitable manner and extend forwardly and downwardly therefrom and have their forward ends secured to a member 84 fixed in the slot 19 of the cutter bar [6, in a usual manner, adjacent the forward end thereof, for yieldably holding the extensible chute E3 in a forward position with respect to the cutter bars [6 and I7.

A deflecting plate 85 is secured to the forward portion of the extensible chute 13 on the upper side thereof by means of a pivotal pin 86 dis-v posed adjacent the central portion of said chute. The deflecting plate 85 is carried for pivotal movement with respect to the extensible chute 13 about the axis of the pivotal pin 86 and extends forwardly of said extensible chute. Suitable slots 81, 81 are provided in each side of the extensible chute 13 to permit pivotal movement of the deflecting plate 85 with respect to said chute so said plate may engage the mine wall for guiding said chute for movement along a curvilinear or irregular mine wall.

The extensible chute 13 is provided with extensible sides 88, 88 having outwardly rounded forward ends disposed adjacent the forward end of the deflecting plate'Sil for engagement with the mine wall. The extensible sides 88, 88 are carried on the inner sides of the side walls M of the extensible chute 13 for slidable movement with respect thereto in a suitable manner, and have plates 89, 89 extending laterally outwardly therefrom and secured thereto in' a suitable manner. The plates 89, 89 are spaced abovethe deflecting plate 85 a slight distance and are parallel with said deflecting plate. The plates 89, 89 are provided with laterally extending slots 98, 9i) which are adapted to be engaged with pivotal pins 9!, 9| carried adjacent opposite sides of the deflecting plate 85.

With reference in particular to Figure 8, it may be seen that when the deflecting plate 85 is pivoted in one direction or another that one extensible side 88 will move in one direction while the other extensible side will be movedin an opposite direction with said deflectingplate so that the advance side of said plate and the advance extensible side will be adjacent the face of the coal for following a curvilinear coal face and forming an "effective means for collecting the cuttings discharged by the cutter chains 51 and 68.

Cuttings carried rearwardly along the extensible chute 13 by the cutter chains 51 and 60 are adapted to be discharged through openings 92 and 93 formed in the main frame M rearwardly of the cutter bars I8 and I! on opposite sides of a housing for the longitudinally extending shaft 63 and the gearing associated therewith.

A discharge hopper 9-4 is secured to and depends from the main frame it beneath the openings 92 and '93 and is in alignment with a discharge hopper 95 secured to a bored portion of the turntable H adjacent the central portion thereof to permit the cuttings to be discharged therethrough on to a longitudinally extending conveyor 96, as is best shown in Figure 5.

The longitudinally extending conveyor 96 may be of any type. but is herein preferably shown as being a flight conveyor comprising a pair of endless chains 91 having flights 98 carried therebetween riding along and under a pan 99. The longitudinally extending conveyor 96 extends rearwardly from a position disposed forwardly of the forward end of the truck frame 2I along said truck frame and angularly upwardly to an elevated position rearwardly of the rearward end of said truck frame and has an open forward end disposed forwardly of said truck frame to permit cuttings to be shoveled therein by hand during the cleaning up operation. The longitudinally extending conveyor 96 may be driven in any suitable manner, but is herein preferably shown as being driven from a motor I on the truck frame 2| through a suitable system of reduction gearing and chain and sprocket drives which is not herein shown in detail since it forms no portion of my present invention.

A discharge conveyor ml is carried rearwardly of the truck frame 2| for pivotal movement with respect thereto beneath the rearward end of the longitudinally extending conveyor 96 and is provided with a hopper I02 to catch material discharged by the longitudinally extending conveyor 96. The discharge conveyor I0! is of the endless chain type and includes a pair of endless chains I03, I03 threaded around suitable sprockets in a usual manner and having flights I04 carried therebetween and riding over and under a bottom plate I05.

The discharge conveyor IOI is so arranged as to extend over a mine car for discharging material therein and is provided with a movable bottom plate l06 carried beneath the bottom plate I05 and extensible forwardly thereof. The movable bottom plate I06 is carried in suitable guides I01, I07 formed in inwardly projecting portions I08 of side members I09, I09 secured to inner sides of a frame member II 0 for the discharge conveyor IOI. A rack III is secured to and depends from the movable bottom plate I06 and extends longitudinally therealong adjacent the central portion thereof. The rack III is adapted to be engaged by a pinion II2 keyed on a transversely extending shaft II3 journaled in the frame member IIO for the discharge conveyor IOI. Suitable hand Wheels II 4 are provided on opposite ends of the transversely extending shaft II3 for rotating said shaft and longitudinally moving the movable bottom plate I06 with respect to the bottom plate I05. It is thus apparent that the discharge conveyor IlJI is so arranged that the point at which material is to be discharged thereby may readily be controlled. Such an arrangement is particularly adapted for loading and trimming cars inasmuch as one end of the car may be loaded and the movable bottom plate I06 may be moved with respect thereto for evenly loading the entire car and trimming the top surface thereof.

With reference now to a brief description of the use and operation of the device embodying my invention and my improved method of cleaning a dirt band from the coal seam, the cutter bars I6 and I! are so spaced that the top and bottom bits may out along the top and bottom of the dirt stratum. The dirt strata in one seam of coal are usually of the same thickness, and where the machine is cutting in other seams than the seam it was originally designed to out, the spacing of the cutter bars I6 and Il may readily be changed to compensate for the increase or decrease in thickness of the dirt strata in a manner which has hereinbefore been described. The machine being adjacent the working place, the cutter bars I 6 and I1 may be sumped into the dirt band by movement of the wheeled truck I0 along the mine bottom effected either by the truck wheels 23, 23 and 25, 25 driven from the motor H00 in the usual manner (not shown) or by means of a suitable rope feed in the usual manner (not shown), the cutter bars I6 and I1 cutting in the dirt band and completely cutting out said dirt band. As the cutter bars I6 and l? are being sumped into the coal, the deflecting plate 85 and forward ends of the extensible sides 88 will engage the coal face for collecting the cuttings as they are discharged by the cutter chains El and 00. The cuttings so collected will be carried by said cutter chains along the extensible chute it through the openings 92 and 93 and the main frame I4 and through the center of the turntable II to the longitudinally extending conveyor 96 from where they in turn will be discharged away from the machine. After the cutter bars l5 and 5? have been completely sumped into the coal, said cutter bars may be fed across the coal face by the turntable II and then withdrawn therefrom in the usual manner, it being understood that the deflecting plate 85 is adjacent the face of the coal during the entire cutting operation and that the dirt cut out by said cutter bars is continuously cleaned from the coal face and deposited in a place remote therefrom except during the initial sumping operation and the latter part of the withdrawing operation when cuttings falling on the floor may be shoveled into the open forward end of the conveyor 96.

It may thus be seen that the device of my invention effects the cleaning of the coal at the face by completely cutting out and cleaning the dirt therefrom, which in turn is collected and removed from the coal face during the cutting operation, thus eliminating the necessity for picking and cleaning the coal outside of the mine.

While I have herein shown and described one form of my invention, it will be understood that the construction and arrangement of the various parts may be altered without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Furthermore, I do not wish to be construed as limiting myself to the specific form illustrated, excepting as it may be specifically limited in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a mining machine, a truck, a turntable thereon, a discharge opening in said turntable, a cutting element on said turntable including a motor arranged rearwardly of said discharge opening, a frame extending forwardly from said motor over said discharge opening, a cutter chain carrying cutter bar projecting from said frame arranged so that its rearward end is forwardly of said discharge opening in said turntable and adapted to cut a horizontal kerf, and an opening in said frame rearwardly of said cutter bar and forwardly of the forward end of said motor, disposed directly above and communicating with said discharge opening in said turntable.

2. In a mining machine, a truck, a conveyer on said truck, a turntable on said truck, a cutting element on said turntable including a frame, a motor disposed rearwardly of said frame for movement therewith, and cutting mechanism projecting forwardly of said frame including a cutter bar having a cutter chain movable thereabout, a sprocket disposed rearwardly of said cutter bar and spaced forwardly of said motor for driving said cutter chain about said cutter bar, a drive connection from said motor to said sprocket including a longitudinal shaft driven by said motor and disposed beneath said sprocket and cutter bar, a portion of said frame forming a housing for said shaft and said frame being open on each side of said housing for the discharge of'cuttings therethrough onto said conveyer.

3.-In a mining machine, a truck, a conveyer on said truck, a turntable on said truck above said conveyer, a discharge opening in said turntable, a cutting element supported on said turntable including a frame, a motor disposed rearwardly of said frame and discharge opening and mounted thereon for bodily movement therewith, a forwardly projecting cutter bar supported on said frame forwardly of said discharge opening, a cutter chain drive sprocket disposed forwardly of said discharge opening, and a cutter chain driven about said cutter bar by said sprocket, a drive connection from said motor to said sprocket including a longitudinal shaft supported in said frame beneath said sprocket and cutter bar, a portion of said frame forming a housing for said shaft and said frame being open on each side of said housing in alignment with said discharge opening in said turntable for the discharge of cuttings onto said conveyer.

4, In a mining machine, a truck, a cutting element on said truck including a frame, a motor disposed rearwardly of said frame for movement therewith, and cutting mechanism projecting forwardly of said frame including a cutter bar having a cutter chain movable thereabout, a sprocket disposed forwardly of said motor for driving said cutter chain about said cutter bar, a drive connection from said motor to said sprocket, said frame having a channel formed therein on the advance side of said cutter bar and leading rearwardly therealong and extending upwardly along the sides of said cutter bar, said channel leading into a hopper formed in said frame disposed between said cutter bar and motor, and said hopper having a discharge opening in the bottom thereof on the advance side of said cutter bar in alignment with said channel.

5. In a mining machine, a truck, a cutting element on said truck including a frame, a motor disposed rearwardly of said frame for movement therewith, and cutting mechanism projecting forwardly of said frame including a cutter bar having a cutter chain movable thereabout, a sprocket disposed rearwardly of said cutter bar and spaced forwardly of said motor for driving said cutter chain about said cutter bar, a drive connection from said motor to said sprocket including a longitudinal shaft driven by said motor and disposed beneath said sprocket and cutter bar, said frame having a channel formed therein on each side of said cutter bar and leading rearwardly therealong and extend ing upwardly along the sides of said cutter bar, said channels leading into a hopper formed in said frame disposed between said cutter bar and motor, and said hopper having openings on opposite sides of said shaft in alignment with said channels.

6. In a mining machine, a truck, a cutting element on said truck including a frame, a motor disposed rearwardly of said frame for movement therewith, and cutting mechanism projecting forwardly of said frame including a cutter bar having a cutter chain movable there- I about, a sprocket disposed rearwardly of said. cutterbar and spaced forwardly of said motor for driving said cutter chain about said cutter bar, a drive connection from said motor to said sprocket including a longitudinal shaft driven by said motor and disposed beneath said sprocket and cutter bar, said frame having a channel formed therein on each side of said cutter bar and leading rearwardly therealong, and openings in said frame disposed beneath and leading from said channels and disposed rearwardly of said sprocket and forwardly of said motor on opposite sides of said shaft for the discharge of cuttings therethrough propelled along one of said channels by said cutter chain.

'7. In a mining machine, a truck, a turntable thereon, a discharge opening in said turntable, a cutting element supported on said turntable including a frame, a motor disposed rearwardly of said frame and discharge opening and mounted thereon for bodily movement therewith, a forwardly pro-jecting cutter bar supported on said frame forwardly of said discharge opening, a cutter chain drive sprocket disposed forwardly of said discharge opening, and a cutter chain driven about said cutter bar by said sprocket, a drive connection from said motor to said sprocket including a longitudinal shaft supported in said frame beneath said sprocket and cutter bar, said frame having a channel formed on the advance side of said cutter bar leading rearwardly along said cutter bar beyond the rearward end thereof, an opening in said frame on the advance side of said shaft and disposed beneath and lead ing from said channel, said opening being in alignment with and communicating with said discharge opening in said turntable for the dis* charge of cuttings therethrough propelled along said channel by said cutter chain.

8. In a mining machine, a truck, a turntable thereon, a discharge opening in said turntable, a cutting element supported on said turntable including a frame, a motor disposed rearwardly of said frame and discharge opening and mounted thereon for bodily movement therewith, a forwardly projecting cutter bar supported on said frame forwardly of said discharge opening, a cutter chain drive sprocket disposed forwardly of said discharge opening, and a cutter chain driven about said cutter bar by said sprocket, a drive connection from said motor to said sprocket including a longitudinal shaft supported in said frame beneath said sprocket and cutter bar, means associated with said cutter bar for collecting the cuttings discharged thereby and directing them to a point rearwardly of said cutter chain sprocket including a channel formed in said frame on each side of said cutter bar and leading rearwardly from said cutter bar, and openings in said frame leading from said channels and disposed rearwardly of said sprocket and on opposite sides of said shaft in alignment with and communicating with said discharge opening in said turntablefor the discharge of cuttings therethrough propelled along one ofsaid channels by said cutter chain.

9. In a mining machine, a truck, a turntable thereon, a cutting element supported on said turntable for vertical adjustment with respect thereto, a frame, a motor disposed rearwardly of and supported by said frame for bodily movement therewith, and cutting mechanism supported by and projecting forwardly of said frame including a cutter bar having a cutter chain movable thereabout, a sprocket disposed rearwardly of said cutter bar and forwardly of said motor for driving said cutter chain about said cutter bar, elevating mechanism on said frame disposed forwardly of said cutter chain sprocket for vertically adjusting the cutting position of said cutter bar, means driven by the forward end of said motor for driving said cutter chain about said cutter bar and selectively driving said elevating mechanism including a shaft extending longitudinally forwardly of said motor along said frame forwardly of said cutter chain sprocket, a drive connection from the forward end of said shaft to said elevating mechanism and a drive connection from an intermediate portion of said shaft to said cutter chain drive sprocket, a portion of said frame forming a housing for said shaft and said frame being open on each side of said shaft forwardly of said motor and rearwardly of said sprocket to permit the discharge of cuttings therethrough.

10. In a mining machine, a truck, a conveyer extending along said truck, a turntable on said truck, a discharge opening in said turntable above said conveyer, cutting mechanism on said turntable including a motor, a frame extending forwardly therefrom, a pair of parallelspaced cutter bars projecting from said frame and spaced in such relation with respect to each other as to cut adjacent the top and bottom of a dirt band in a coal seam and adapted to completely out out a dirt band in the coal seam by simultaneous lateral swinging movement across the front of said truck or by bodily movement of the machine, means cooperating with said cutter bars for collecting the cuttings discharged thereby and directing them to a point disposed rearwardly thereof including a channel formed on the advance side of said cutter bars and leading to an opening in said frame communicating with said discharge opening in said turntable for the discharge of cuttings therethrough on to said conveyer.

11. In a mining machine, a truck, a conveyer on said truck extending therealong and rearwardly thereof, a turntable on said truck, a discharge opening in said turntable above said conveyer, a cutting element on said turntable adapted to completely out out and clean a dirt band in a coal seam in a continuous operation including a motor, a frame secured thereto and extending forwardly therefrom above said discharge opening, a pair of parallel-spaced projecting cutter bars spaced in such relation with respect to each other as to cut adjacent the top and bottom of a dirt band in a coal seam and adapted to completely out out a dirt band in the coal seam by simultaneous lateral swinging movement across the front of said truck or by movement of the machine along a track, means cooperating with said cutter bars for collecting the cuttings discharged thereby and directing them to a point disposed rearwardly thereof, and openings in said frame on each side thereof disposed above and communicating with said discharge opening in said turntable for discharging the cuttings therethrough onto said conveyer.

12. In a mining machine, a truck, a conveyer on said truck extending therealong and rearwardly thereof, a turntable on said truck, a discharge opening in said turntable above said conveyer, a cutting element on said turntable adapted to completely out out and clean a dirt band in a coal scam in a continuous operation including a motor, a frame secured thereto and extending forwardly therefrom above said discharge opening, a pair of parallel-spaced projecting cutter bars having cutter chains movable thereabout spaced in such relation with respect to each other as to cut adjacent the top and bottom of a dirt band in a coal seam and adapted to completely out out a dirt band in the coal seam by simultaneous lateral swinging movement across the front of said truck or by movement of the machine along a track, means cooperating with said cutter bars for collecting the cuttings discharged thereby and directing them to a point disposed rearwardly therefrom, means driven by said motor for driving said cutter chain about said cutter bar including a shaft extending longitudinally forwardly thereof over said discharge opening in said turntable, and openings in said frame on each side of said shaft disposed above and communicating with said discharge opening in said turntable for discharging the cuttings therethrough onto said conveyer.

THOMAS E. PRAY. 

